5 spline wheel lugs and socket

[Lynn]

Correction: has seven spline lug bolts (not nuts.... not that it matters that much).

Pics of lugs and wheels attached. No identifying marks, so I don't know what brand they are.

Taz. I am not above Neanderthal by any means. Consider myself to be a bit of hack mechanic on some things. Because they are seven spline, I don't have a socket I can hamnmer on, without something else put in for interference (read below). One of the problems it that they (the lug bolts) are on so tight.

Here is how I know, and here is what I tried so far.

I am able to slip either an 11/16 twelve point socket or 17mm twelve point socket over. Both fit pretty snug. 5/8 does not and 16mm does not.
I figured this would be a piece of cake. Found a couple of old sockets in the "extra" socket drawer. Didn't want to break a good one.
Cut off part of a nail and laid it in one of the spline grooves. Socket wouldn't quite go over it, so Had to hammer it on. Broke the socket; it split all the way down the side. Figured I would try a better socket, so useed a 17mm Craftsman. Hammered it on with the nail in one of the grooves. Split the Craftsman.

If I can just get one of them off, I could mail it in to someone who has an assortment of the key sockets. I don't want to just buy every number there is of the 7 spline keyed sockets. As you can see from the pics, the front wheel lugs are even more recessed than the back.

I thought I had a set of these somewhere, but can't find them: universal lug key
I know my brother has a set at the shop, so may end up seeing if one of those will work. I just hate wasting time on this stuff.

I know I can take some measurements and make a temp tool good enough to get one of them off. I don't want to weld something to one of them as I am pretty sure there would be enough spatter to ruin the finish on the wheel, and they are pristine right now (other than a few water spots). Might try a socket with two pieces of nail. At least that would spread the load to twp places on the socket.